Abstract By analyzing Maugham’s magnum opus Of Human Bondage, this thesis mainly works on researching Maugham’s personality and writing style. And it summarizes Maugham’s thoughts about his own identity as the writer so that the analysis of the spiritual world of writer can be carried out. The sensitivity and solitude hidden in Maugham’s inner world endow him with the ability to depict people, sceneries and stories. In addition, based on his life experiences, he puts forward unique concepts and philosophy about “human” in his novels. Maugham states his pursuits for both reality and ideal by comparing the personalities of first-rate artists in his mind with his own. By analyzing Maugham and his literary work, this thesis attempts to help readers have better understanding of Maugham’s definition about writers and make some contributions to the domestic study on Maugham.48225

Somerset Maugham has always been considered as the second-rate writer by many critics. However, Maugham himself does not feel unhappy about their judgements. In Of Human Bondage, it is also not difficult to find that Maugham’s view that the “first-rate” represents genius. Maugham has clear understanding of his own personalites and life experiences which makes him has explicit orientation about his own qualities as a writer and his writing style. Being the best storyteller is perhaps the most profound pursuit in Maugham’s writing career.

Key words: Maugham, Of Human Bondage, sensitive, solitary, evaluation

摘要本文通过对毛姆的代表作《人生的枷锁》的分析，研究毛姆的性格特点和写作风格，通过总结得出毛姆对自身作家身份的定位，从而对作家的精神世界进行分析。毛姆性格中的敏感、孤独造就了他对人、景和故事的描述能力，他的人生经历造就了他独特的哲学观念和对“人”这一存在的感悟。毛姆通过这部作品，将心目中一流艺术家的形象和性格与自身形象作比较，阐述了自己对现实和理想的追求。本论文意在通过对作家和文学作品的解读，让读者对毛姆有关作家的定位有更清晰的理解，也希望对国内毛姆的研究工作贡献一份微薄之力。

评论界一直将毛姆定位于“二流作家”，但毛姆本人却并未对自己的定位心怀不满。从其重要作品《人生的枷锁》中也不难看出毛姆对于“一流”即天才的评断。毛姆对自身的性格特点及人生经历有着清晰的认识，这让他对自己的作家资质和写作风格有了明确的定位。“成为最会讲故事的作家”也许就是毛姆对自己写作生涯的最高追求。

毕业论文关键词：毛姆，《人性的枷锁》，敏感，孤独，定位

 CONTENTS

Acknowledgments i

Abstract ii

摘要 iii

1 Introduction 1

1.1 William Somerset Maugham 1

1.2 Of Human Bondage 1

2 The Eternity of Life 3

2.1 The Growth of Phillip 3

2.2 The Development of Phillip 4

2.3 The Bondage of Life 5

3 Maugham’s Self-image in Of Human Bondage 7

3.1 The World View of Maugham 7

3.2 The Writing Style of Maugham 9

3.3 The Literary Criticism of Maugham 10

3.4 Maugham’s Self Evaluation 12

4 Conclusion